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Commuter Dude: Sending a message to truck drivers in forbidden lanes

Truck drivers traveling through metro Atlanta are learning the hard way that some interstate lanes are off-limits to them.

ATLANTA – Truck drivers traveling through metro Atlanta are learning the hard way that some interstate lanes are off-limits to them.

Metro commuters continue to contact 11Alive to complain about trucks over six wheels in the outside lanes of area interstates.

Commuter Dude Jerry Carnes contacted officers with the Department of Public Safety’s Motor Carrier Compliance division.

Officer Chase Woodie responded to I-285, where he quickly finds a big rig in one of two outside lanes.

“Sign on the overpass says no trucks allowed in the two left lanes,” says Woodie.

“It changes a lot,” the driver explains. “I thought I was in the right lane there.”

He tells Officer Woodie that he saw other truck drivers doing the same.

“I told him as soon as I get done with you, we're going to stop another one,” says Woodie.

A few minutes later, he finds driver Devonte Desmond traveling too far to the left.

“I didn't think it was that big of a deal,” said Desmond.

Signs along metro interstates tell big rig drivers it is a big deal when trucks with over 6 wheels are in the far left lanes of interstates. Depending on the stretch of interstate, that can be anywhere from one to three lanes.

There are several reasons for the law. It's supposed to keep heavy trucks out of the fast lanes of the interstates. It's also intended to reduce the amount of lane changes performed by big rig drivers.

And yet, Officer Woodie spots another truck in one of the forbidden lanes, only to discover the driver is without a log book. There's no way to know how far he's been driving, or the last time he got some sleep.

“You're going to be placed out of service for 10 hours,” Woodie tells the driver.

The driver is done for the day. Officer Woodie and his ticket book are not.

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